Van Gal

[Frogfish]

Most bookies rate United at 2/5 to finish top 4 and us at 7/2. I don't think that's far from the truth.

Bookies are naturally heavily influence by betting patterns. Lots of Manc fans out there got on heavily once LvG was appointed. It still doesn't reflect the difficulty of each team's run-in and ours is probably heavily discounted because of our EL participation.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

Bookies are naturally heavily influence by betting patterns. Lots of Manc fans out there got on heavily once LvG was appointed. It still doesn't reflect the difficulty of each team's run-in and ours is probably heavily discounted because of our EL participation.

I wouldn't be as confident as the bookies but in general I think odds are usually a reasonably good predictor of results.

On Van Gaal so far....

A bit of a mixed bag really.

The football has been pretty shocking really, we have rode our luck numerous times and some decisions have/are really odd.

However, none of that really matters position in the league and 19 games with one loss is a solid record.

while many are saying that it is because the other contenders for top 4 have been poor that is only part of the story. I think the poor results of the top 4 contenders is as much to do with the increase in quality of the rest of the league as it is to do with the top teams.
And with the new PL tv money the quality is only going to continue to increase. Becoming a long term consistent top 4 team will become harder and harder with more movement in an out of it.

 

[Hansern]

The biggest contributor to your league position and results is De Gea.
You'd be 12-15 points worse off without him.

 

[cloggypop]

Best outfield player is Fellaini.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

The biggest contributor to your league position and results is De Gea.
You'd be 12-15 points worse off without him.

Yeah don't disagree having a top keeper is all part of getting those extra points.

 

[King Binny]

Squawka Football ‏@Squawka 26s27 seconds ago
Man Utd away from home in the Premier League under Louis van Gaal: DDLDLWWDDDWDL Goals scored: 16 Goals conceded: 16

 

[Frogfish]

I heard that during the match .. only won 3 games away from home all season. They won't finish Top 4.

 

[Judge Jules]

Let's please not tempt fate in this way. At the moment they're in 4th and as yet most other teams haven't proven good enough to get ahead of them.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Let's please not tempt fate in this way. At the moment they're in 4th and as yet most other teams haven't proven good enough to get ahead of them.

Indeed. Their play on the pitch may not be impressing, but their points total is better than that play suggests & the rest of the league is at best inconsistent, at worst, appalling for this level.

Should Chelsea & City suddenly hit bad runs this goddamn awful Utd side could actually win this league, something we could not do.

 

[cloggypop]

I still think they will finish around 6th/7th myself.

 

[Gary25]

Let's please not tempt fate in this way. At the moment they're in 4th and as yet most other teams haven't proven good enough to get ahead of them.

As for our own chances, we'll see where we're at come 2pm next Sunday.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I still think they will finish around 6th/7th myself.

They could well do. They could also finish a few places above us, in anything from 1st to 6th depending on what other teams do.

Im with Jules, it's way too early to be crowing about their form, especially when ours (over the season) isn't anything to write home about

 

[cloggypop]

Nah, they spent a squillion quid and their best outfield player is Fellaini. That is pretty damn funny.

 

[cloggypop]

I can see them dropping a few points here

 

[FoxForceFive]

Fucking ouch. Hadn't seen that... There's some potential for serious damage in those fixtures.

 

[peterhague]

Tbf that's a lousy run they have there. Looks much worse than the last time I saw it :/

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

The Mancs are where they are right now because of their home record - 10W 1D 2L is only second to Chelsea's 11-2-0. Hopefully that solidity at home will crack soon as pressure mounts and the fans get on the team's back at Old Trafford.

A replay for their FA Cup game against the Gunners will be most convenient for us as well.

 

[Rosco]

We all know things turned for them when LVG went full Benitez.

Never go full Benitez

 

[Frogfish]

Indeed. Their play on the pitch may not be impressing, but their points total is better than that play suggests & the rest of the league is at best inconsistent, at worst, appalling for this level.

Should Chelsea & City suddenly hit bad runs this goddamn awful Utd side could actually win this league, something we could not do.

You lot are a superstitious bunch ! United couldn't win this league if you gave them an extra 10 games more than City/Chelsea.

It's got nothing to do with crowing and we are not comparing them to us. They have been lucky all season and hopefully this is the start of that luck turning. Can we not even discuss them now ? Jeez Louise.

They won't finish in the Top 4. I'll put money on that.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I'm normally not one for any talk of 'tempting fate' or any such shite. However the mancs have proven me wrong once too many on this. Happily write them off, but I can't do it, I'd prefer to hope for them failing but prepare for them succeeding, sadly enough.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Even if they won every game Chelsea would have to lose about 5. Cant see that happening.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Dropped into the redcafe tonight, which I don't normally do. Whilst disappointed with the result, the majority seem to think it was the best they have played for a long time, and that Swansea were very lucky to win.

 

[peterhague]

Dropped into the redcafe tonight, which I don't normally do. Whilst disappointed with the result, the majority seem to think it was the best they have played for a long time, and that Swansea were very lucky to win.

Well that runs contrary to Robbie Savage's forensic analysis on Match of the Day. As he said, 'long ball long ball long ball Man Utd, long ball, Fellani, long ball, Man Utd. Fellaini, Man Utd, disgraceful.'

And really, it's hard to disagree with that.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Well that runs contrary to Robbie Savage's forensic analysis on Match of the Day. As he said, 'long ball long ball long ball Man Utd, long ball, Fellani, long ball, Man Utd. Fellaini, Man Utd, disgraceful.'

And really, it's hard to disagree with that.

Didn't watch the first half, but yep, second half was amazing for the number of times they pinged the ball to Fellaini's head at the far post. It was so predictable that I predict Van Gaal will buy Carroll from West Ham in the summer so he can have a bit more variation in who the long ball is pinged to.

 

[Hansern]

Didn't watch the first half, but yep, second half was amazing for the number of times they pinged the ball to Fellaini's head at the far post. It was so predictable that I predict Van Gaal will buy Carroll from West Ham in the summer so he can have a bit more variation in who the long ball is pinged to.

If Carroll wont leave and Crouch says no, I can see Van Gaal trying to lure Kevin Francis out of retirement.

 

[Silver Sean]

He's a fucking blert.

 

[Judge Jules]

He's been a very successful blert up till now though. My hope is that they got him after his sell-by date.

 

[C/O]

 

[mark1975]

Great keeper, on paper at least, a great attack. Pretty ordinary everywhere else though and their master tactician has made them play like Stoke.

As said though, its stupid to write them off.

 

[Dave G]

The biggest contributor to your league position and results is De Gea.
You'd be 12-15 points worse off without him.

I always thought Schmeichel was worth the same points each season to yhem.